Organiztional Issues

Brenda Harris

ETH/316

May 29, 2012

Professor David Hayes

I chose to write my paper on the short film Greyston Bakery. This paper will describe how ethical principles can be used to address organizational issues. Founded in 1982 by Bernie Glassman, Greyston Bakery specializes in baking gourmet brownies. The for-profit organization is most known for being a supplier to the famous ice cream company, Ben &Jerry’s. Greyston Bakery displays ethics with a social mission to “engage in the discussion about values-led business and to formally join the movement for a new way of doing business” ("Greyston Bakery Inc.", 2014). While most companies base employment on education and work experience, The Company has an open-hire policy that provides employment to men and women within the community with little to no work experience.

The issues in the film are important because they emphasize how a business can influence the world by serving the community instead of the community serving a business. As mentioned in the film by CEO Bernie Glassman, Greyston serves its community by giving back. Other companies have been known to give back to the community as well. Famous bakery In the South, Shipley Donuts gives back to the community as well by helping schools, churches and charity groups (Shipley Do-Nuts, 2011-1014). What sets Greyston apart from Shipley Donuts is that the company’s profits go to the Greyston foundation, a non-profit organization that provides housing for the homeless and low-income families, and affordable child care and healthcare services.

There are some external social pressures that influence an organization’s ethics. Due to the information age, news travels quickly when a company is under spotlight or facing public scrutiny. The media focuses on how well an organization treats its employees and customers, community involvement and environmental friendly activities. Media attention to scandals can be also big ethical issue for an organization,...